HYDERABAD, Dec 14: The kidnappers of the EDO Health of Tando Allahyar, Dr Jalil Bachani, have reportedly sought ransom for his release, but a formal contact is yet to be established for a deal, police sources told this correspondent.

“I confirm that there is a demand for ransom by kidnappers, who are led by Ali Bux Loond,” said a police officer.

He, however, denied that Rs10 million had been demanded as ransom and said that a formal contact had not yet been established between the kidnappers and Dr Bachani’s family.

“I don’t have any such information that ransom has been demanded. I would have told you had there been such a demand. You can better speak to DIG”, said Abdul Sattar Bachani, brother of the EDO.

The demand for ransom is believed to have been made 10 to 12 days after the kidnapping. According to close associates of Bachanis, the family is hopeful of the EDO’s return in a couple of days but elders of the family are not making any claim in public that they are going to pay ransom. “Our family members met Bachani family members and they are quite hopeful of the hostage’s release”, said a close aide.

The police source admitted that the recovery had been delayed. He said that the case was now being exclusively handled by Hyderabad police under supervision of DPO Ghulam Nabi Memon, who is being assisted by SP investigation. “You know it’s not easy to get a hostage recovered,” he insisted.

Initially Nawabshah police had also coordinated with the Hyderabad police when they arrested one of the accomplices of kidnappers, namely Kashmir Khan Mari – a hardened criminal - following an encounter which ensued soon after Bachani’s kidnapping and resulted in the death of a bandit.

Mari, who was injured in the encounter, didn’t give correct information about location of dacoits’ hideout where hostage was being held. But he did disclose names of his accomplices.

Hyderabad police did make some arrests in Tando Allahyar after they failed to apprehend Wakeel Khokhar, said to be the gunman of an influential landlord of Tando Allahyar. “A police sub-inspector, who is also Khokhar by caste, was also detained by the police for questioning as he was having contacts with Wakeel Khokhar”, said the source.

“The bandits wouldn’t release hostage without payment of ransom. Ali Bux Loond’s family members including his brother-in-law, other relatives and livestock were picked-up by police from Sehwan. He would have released the hostage soon after their arrest but now it seems difficult”, said a police source, associated with the case.

The hostage is believed to be in the mountains of Dadu.

EDO Bachani was kidnapped on November 22 while he was returning to Tando Allahyar from a marriage ceremony along with his wife and driver.